Video Pipeline, Buena Vista Courtroom Face-Off Moved to Aug. 8

The Video Pipeline Inc./Buena Vista Home Entertainment courtroom face-off, scheduled for July 31, has been postponed to Aug. 8 when both parties will present evidence about streaming of movie clips and then answer questions from the bench.

Federal district Judge Jerome Simandle, meanwhile, has granted the Video Software Dealers Association and the National Association of Recording Merchandisers permission to file friend-of-the-court briefs on behalf of their members. Buena Vista counsel Gary Rosen requested the Motion Picture Association of America be allowed to do the same.

Judge Simandle, who has asked for an in-court demonstration of streaming technology, is still considering VPI’s motion to dismiss all butone of Buena Vista’s counterclaims, "the big one" of copyright infringement," says VPI president JedHorovitz. He contends the others are state law issues that aren’t relevant.

A trial date will be set inlate September, after completion of the discovery phase.